My Butterfly Heaven was began because paper doesn't hurt as much to step on as beads do. LOL

Friday, May 28, 2010

MERCY STREET

This writing finds me contemplating the fact that I have a hard time with loss. The loss of a friend, a pet, my car keys, even the loss of time. The lesson is to never take any thing for granted because one day, they won't be here and it will be less a world without them.

It was 1978 that I first saw Chris at school, me a young freshman and he, a handsome senior, and it wasn't that handsome smile, or his fabulous hair that captured my attention but his natural ability to play any keyboard, but especially the organ. I loved to sing; it was my secret that I wanted someday to sing to thousands of people. I often day dreamed about Chris accompanying me but then I was an unknown freshman and he a popular senior, with a lot of friends of his own. I almost got the courage one day to ask him to accompany me for a church service I had to sing for but I lost my nerve. He probably wouldn't want to be bothered with someone like me. I was so wrong.

It was the middle part of April, 2010, roughly 32 years later my good friend Marty mentioned to me that she would like me to help her with a Kidney Awareness bracelet that she thought she'd like to make. I asked her for the link where I could find the beads and she sent it to me via email and I bought them right away. She wasn't expecting this, but it's fun to make someone smile. I told her I'd make it for her, asked her what her wrist size was and designed a pretty groovy look for her, sent her the picture after I got it made and sent it off in the mail. Marty has been through so much in her life, I feel she deserves every bit of happiness she can get. And it was an honor to help her with this project.

Marty was pretty happy with the bracelet and she told her good friend, Chris. They talked about his desire to have a custom rosary made so she mentioned it to me. She told me that he was going to ask me to help him with this project and I almost was struck speechless that Chris would want ME to help him. (and those that know me well, know that for me to be struck speechless is a miracle). All those years before when I thought he didn't have time for me, was now proving to me that even someone as terrifically talented as Chris saw something in my ability and was asking me to create a custom designed rosary, the one he envisioned in his mind. For him to have faith in my ability like that took my breath away. The first thing I thought of was how one good deed had brought this great person back into my life, I caught my breath at the first email on April 17:

"Hey, LaShelleGlad the idea of a Rosary intrigues you. Kindly send you’re mailing address so I can send you payment.As for the beads, kindly string purple glass, interrupted only by sterling silver, hinged only to freshwater pearls.Altogether willing to pay $XXX bucks. If that seems fair, let me know. Can advance you $XXX.Kindest regardsChris"

From that moment I knew I was going to be working with a gem of a person. In the first conversations Chris told me how he would like me to make two rosaries; one for him and one for a dear friend. Later I found out that the one he intended the second one for had explained to her that for her to have one like his would be like they were "praying together." This was Chris' heart. So giving, so warm with a wonderful sense of humor. Eloquent writing, clearly simplistic but so understandable. It was like he knew how to talk with me. I have 24 emails from him while we worked on his rosary project and each day he told me how happy he was as I communicated with him. There was an incredible energy that he exuded and I caught it. Every step of the project he chose each piece and was so enthusiastic that I began hurrying home to see if he had written to me, for more ideas, or to choose the crucifix that he still had left to find. He would look for the component then send me the link; I then would purchase the desired component and kept a tab for him, letting him know how much he was spending on materials. Once I received all the components except for the unchosen crucifix's I told Chris I would begin putting them together. I had made a practice one and knew it was going to take about 3-3.5 hours for each one. Over the period of two days I worked on them, wire wrapping each bead (there are 59 in a 5 decade rosary) and then assembling the decades. There was a peaceful calm that I haven't felt in a long time, sitting here with each bead, knowing that Chris and his dear friend would touch each bead, and each bead had meaning. It was a prayerful, wonderfully peaceful time for me and such an honor.

April 20 I received an email from Chris:

"Hi LaShelle—I have been overtaken by some sort of flu things so no trips to the postal drop box today :-{ hopefully before the week’s out! Thanks for all your assistance—I’m sure it will be lovelyKindest regardsChris"

We needed to halt the project, Chris needed to feel better. It took a couple of days and then he sent me the link to purchase the last element, the crucifix's beautiful Celtic crosses with a gorgeous red garnet stone in the middle of each one. Those were shipped right out and I had them on Wednesday, finished the rosaries, took pictures sent them via email to Chris and this was his response:

"Absolutely beautiful!" This was April 28th's email back to me. I didn't know it at the time but it was the last email I was ever to receive from Chris. I was happy that he was happy and since it was too late to send the rosaries out I had to wait until after work on Thursday. I sent the package out priority shipping 2-3 day. I had sent to New York before so I was almost positive it would only take a couple of days. I thought it might even get to him on Friday but for sure Saturday. I couldn't waitto get the next email, of Chris telling me he had received the package and that he was satisfied.

But sadly, I would never receive that anticipated email.His sister, Marsha posted this on his wall on May 2:

"IT IS WITH A HEART HEAVY BEYOND IMAGINATION THAT I WRITE THIS POST TO INFORM YOU THAT MY DEAREST BROTHER AND BEST FRIEND CHRISTOPHER PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY. HE WAS RUSHED TO ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL IN FULL CARDIAC ARREST AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REVIVE HIM. AS HIS FRIENDS, I KNOW YOU APPRECIATE WHAT A TRULY WONDERFUL PERSON... CHRIS WAS, HOW DEEPLY HE TOUCHED EACH OF OUR LIVES AND HOW VERY MUCH HE WILL BE MISSED."-Marsha

"Mercy Street" was one of his first emails to me after a couple of days of emailing back and forth, working on the rosaries...

"Will work on this tomorrow. Worshipping the day away this afternoon. Heaven awaits!Kindest regards,Chris"

I waited and checked my email all day Saturday for a message from him. I was so anxious to read his email because I wanted him to love them. Of course I already knew he did. Rest In Peace Chris. (we'll talk about the rosaries in heaven). All heaven is waiting for you, and I'll get to finally sing while you play the biggest organ you've ever seen!

Oh LaShelle, I am welling with tears. I knew you had made the rosaries with a purpose but to have them be someones dying wish so to speak is just well heavenly. I pray that you will talk to him about the rosaries and how perfect they were and the connection that is still there between he and his friend because of you, but not to soon cause I love having you as my friend. Love you girlfriend,Jenn